Toronto, Canada — Michael Bradley is staying in Toronto.
Toronto FC agreed to terms with the midfielder, announcing a re-signing on Thursday. However, instead of taking a Designated Player spot, the club signed him to a TAM deal. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Bradley has appeared for Toronto in more than 200 matches, considering all competitions. Toronto FC President Bill Manning praised Bradley as a leader. A captain for Toronto, Bradley led the team to another MLS Cup Championship this year. However, the team fell to Seattle Sounders in the third meeting in the finals.
“Michael and his family have made Toronto their home and we are all very happy that they will continue to be part of our club for years to come,” Manning said, via a press release.
Meanwhile, Bradley said that he feels “attached” to Toronto.
“I love it here and I am really proud of what we’ve been able to do over the past six years,” Bradley said. “Beyond the success, I am equally as proud of the mentality and identity this club has taken on. The relationship between the club and the city, the club and the fans are both very special and I’m proud to have played a part in that. What we have in Toronto doesn’t exist everywhere. My family and I are so happy to remain in Toronto and we’d like to thank everyone at Toronto FC for ensuring that this process was done quietly and professionally behind the scenes. I’m looking forward to continuing to play in the biggest games and competing for trophies every year.”
Bradley has scored 11 goals in since arriving to Toronto in 2014. His work on offense is couples with 25 assists. He returned to MLS from Italy, as he featured for Roma before coming to Toronto.
It’s been a ride, cap… but there’s still more silverware to lift.
Let's run it back. pic.twitter.com/LHQlZXSrqV
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) December 12, 2019
Michael Bradley: “An Exceptional Human Being.”
Bradley hasn’t just made a difference on the pitch — he’s active in the Toronto community. Toronto FC General Manager Ali Curtis called him a great player, but an “exceptional” human being.
“I also have a great deal of respect for Michael for how he handled his contract situation —with class and professionalism,” Curtis said. “His goals are aligned with TFC. We are all competitive and strive to win and compete every single year for trophies.”
During his time with the Reds, Bradley helped Toronto win three Eastern Conference titles. Toronto has also won three Canadian Championships during his time in Canada. In the last four years, Toronto has made their way to three MLS Cup Championship matches. They beat Seattle in 2017, but fell in 2016 and 2019.
Toronto opens up their season on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes on Feb. 29. A week later, Toronto FC will host their home opener against New York City FC at BMO Field. The match will take place on March 7, at 5 p.m. EST.
